Pettus ISD teachers are returning to school this year with smiles on their faces and an increased feeling of appreciation for a job well done. The deserving teachers received monetary stipends which they earned in varying amounts between $1,350 and $2,500.

The purpose of the D.A.T.E. grant is to award educators who demonstrate success in improving student achievement. D.A.T.E. is a non-competitive grant in which funds are awarded to a school district based on the district’s average daily attendance (ADA). PISD was awarded $31,757.

This districtwide incentive is based on the teachers’ students scoring at the exemplary level (90th percentile) or at the recommended level (75th percentile) on their respective TAKS tests this past school year

Pettus Elementary teachers who were not eligible for the D.A.T.E. funds because they did not teach TAKS tested grade levels were given a $750 stipend funded by the district. This stipend was earned because the campus received an Exemplary Accountability Rating by the Texas Education Agency.

The district will participate in the D.A.T.E. grant again during the 2009-10 school year.